Perforated drum material treatment device having a plurality of treatment zones



July 1963 G. FLEISSNER 3,098,371 PERFORATED DRUM MATERIAL TREATMENT DEVICE HAVING A PLURALITY 0F TREATMENT ZONES Filed Oct. 26. 1960 INVENTOR. Gerold Fleissner McGlew 8 Toren ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent PERFQRATEI) DRUM MATERIAL TREATMENT DEVICE HAVING A PLURALITY 0F TREAT- NiENT ZONES Geroid Fieissner, Egelsbach, Germany, assignor to Fleissner G.m.b.H., Egeishach, Germany, a German firm Filed Set. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 65,159 Claims priority, application Germany Oct. 26, 1959 13 Claims. (Cl. 68-5) This invention relates, in general, to devices for treating materials and, in particular, to a new and useful device for treating air permeable goods such as textile materials and includes various zones through which the goods are passed which include means for directing fluid through the goods for effecting steaming, drying, fixing and the like.

The invention is principally concerned with the treating of materials such as textile goods in web or sheet form, including loose fibers, fleeces and the like.

Prior to the present invention, apparatus have been provided for advancing textile fabrics and materials through treatment zones but such devices have many disadvantages. In some instances, the devices require separate means for securing the fibers on a conveying mechanism while they are transported, and, if the apparatus is divided into zones, such zones are not arranged in a manner in which treatment of a diiferent nature could be carried on in successive zones and the arrangement was not compact or of a nature to permit efiicient handling of the treatment fluid by means of a single fan.

In some prior art constructions, sieve drums have been provided for transporting textile materials around thereon while the goods were being subjected to treatment. In such constructions, however, the sieve drum casings have always been divided both on the inside and the outside of the sieve drum into zones. In such constructions the zones which are arranged on the inside of the drum in alignment with similar zones on the outside of the drum have been "connected with one or more fans which must always be arranged within the interior of the drum and the zones defined therein. Such a construction results in an expensive casing arrangement on the one hand, and difficulty in operating such devices is common.

Moreover, due to the long guide paths for the fluid which must travel from a zone outside the sieve drum through the sieve drum and into a zone inside the sieve drum, considerable friction losses occur which add to the power requirements. In addition, the prior art constructions employ auxiliary means for securing the goods to the sieve drum as they are transported.

In accordance with the present invention, the prior art disadvantages are overcome by means of a sieve drum construction including an outer casing which is divided into zones surrounding the sieve drum and in which a single axial intake and radial discharge fan is arranged at one end of the sieve drum and employed to direct fluid through selective ones of the zones surrounding the outside of the drum and then downwardly through the sieve drum and to the inlet of the fan arranged at one end thereof.

An important advantage of the present invention is that the fan effects suction on the sieve and the holding of the goods thereon is effected solely through the action of the fan. The construction includes an arrangement by which the materials to be treated are fed to a position on the drum at one side of the casing and advanced around the drum at the interior of the casing to a discharge point on the same side as the inlet, thus passing the fabrics through the numerous interior stages in the drum for treatment purposes.

An essential advantage of the invention resides in that "ice the outer circumference of the casing surrounding the sieve drum is divided into numerous individual zones which may be separately fed by treatment fluid which is blown selectively into one or more of the zones as desired under the regulation of control means arranged at one end of the drum. The arrangement is such that each zone surrounding the sieve drum is associated with or in communication with a supply duct fed by a ventilator or fan. In such a manner it is not necessary to employ guiding or deflecting means, such as baffles or blades on the interior of the drum as in prior art constructions.

The invention is based on the consideration that the amount of air from a given zone 1 surrounding the sieve drum is sucked off and reaches an associated zone 1 through the fan which again discharges or gives off this fluid to the zone 1 surrounding the sieve drum. if, dependent on the nature of the goods treated, there should occur 'a certain displacement of the air current due to an increased resistance posed by the goods in the related zone, for example, then in accordance with the present construction it is possible to adjust the discharge from the fan into the corresponding zone to increase the pressure therein if desired. On the other hand, the discharge from the fan may be regulated so that it completely bypasses a given zone or delivers a quantity of fluid thereto.

The present invention includes a casing having controllable air inlet openings which may be opened or closed easily at will. Similarly, controllable air outlet means are provided preferably at a location on a side .Wall of the casing of the apparatus.

The arrangement of the air inlet openings and the discharge openings are such that a minimum amount of resistance to fluid flow is set up by the circulation within the device. For such reasons, the air inlet openings are preferably arranged in radial direction in respect to the sieve drum, while the air outlet flaps are arranged in axial direction.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for conducting fluid to each zone individually for effecting various treatment of the fabrics as they are advanced on the sieve drum. For example, in some instances steam is admitted through such lines, or chemicals for treating the fabrics are added. In addition, the apparatus advantageously includes separate heating units located at the inlet end of each zone to heat a fluid such as air which is circulated by the fan.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved device for transporting materials through a plurality of treatment zones.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sieve drum casing and fan arrangement for advancing materials through a plurality of treatment zones.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for advancing materials through a plurality of treatment zones including a sieve drum, a casing surrounding the sieve drum with *a plurality of zones defined therearound and a single fan arranged at one end of the drum and eflective to draw fluid through the perforations of the annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For

a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a transverse section taken on line 11 of FIG. 3 of a textile material treatment apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective elevational view with portions of the apparatus removed including the end cover taken in the vicinity of line 2--2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is -a perspective elevation partly broken away of the textile material treatment apparatus; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view indicating the battle controls.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein includes a textile material treatment device generally designated 14, which, in the present embodiment, includes an outer substantially octagonal casing 16. The casing 16 includes an opening 18 on one side into which the goods or materials 50 which are to be treated are introduced. The goods are passed around guide rollers 20 and onto a large sieve drum 12. The sieve drum 12 is provided with a multiplicity of perforations and fluid is drawn from the exterior of the drum through the fabric materials 50 and out through an opening in an end wall 22 by a ventilator or fan generally designated 9. An opposite wall 24 of the sieve drum is supported on suitable bearings 26 and substantially closes this end of the drum.

The fan generally designated 9 includes blades 28 which are arranged to draw fluid in through a central inlet 30 and discharge it radially through a discharge 32.

In accordance with the invention, the casing 16 is divided by a plurality of radially extending walls 8 into a plurality of zones numbered 1 to 7, inclusive. A collecting duct 34 with individual baflie control means 45 is provided to deliver fluid discharged by the fan 9 selectively to one or more of the zones 1 to 7.

A feature of the construction is that heating elements 15 are arranged in one or more of the zones 1 to 7 which are in communication with the collecting duct 34. Thus, for example, it is possible to direct heating air into zones 7, 6 and 5, if desired, by directing the fluid over the heating elements 15 for such zones. Of course, the heating elements may be provided for each zoneand if so desired may be disconnected for selective zones.

The apparatus further includes conduit means 36 which are connected to one or more zones, such as zones 7, 6 and indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Through these conduit means 36, it is possible to direct treatment fluid, such as steam, chemicals, or the like, for spraying these materials onto the fabrics through nozzles 38 provided for such purposes.

The fan 9 is driven through suitable belting 40 by means of a small electric motor 42 mounted at this end of the casing 16. The casing is provided with an adjustable air inlet vent arranged on one 'or more of the side walls and an adjustable air discharge vent 11 arranged on an end wall 44. Both the air inlet vent l0 and the outlet vent 11 are adjustable and, of course, they may be closed altogether to permit solely recirculation of the fluid within the casing 16. For this purpose vent 11 is hinged at 11 and may be swung on hinge 11 in the direction of the arrow to adjust the amount of opening.

The embodiment of the invention described is particularly intended for very large installations, for example, the fan 9 may have blades 28 larger than 1.5 meters in diameter.

After the materials are brought around on the drum back to the opening 18, they are guided over rollers 46 to further apparatus not shown.

The treatment means may be conducted over the material within the various zones either in direct current rela tionship or in counter current relationship in respect to the movement of the goods.

The plates 8 are advantageously adjustable, at least near their extremities, in order to provide slight varia tions in the extent of the zone, as desired. In some instances, the walls 8 are only partial walls and do not extend along the complete length of the device and may be adjusted axially in order to provide a variation in the treatment of the material. In many instances, a staggered arrangement of plates 8 of smaller dimension than the length of the casing 16 is provided.

The heat exchangers 15 normally function with each of the heating elements either fully heated or completely turned off. However, it should be appreciated that the effective heating surfaces may be changeable.

Materials of all types may be treated in a device of this nature and not solely textile material. In those cases in which textile materials are used, such materials as wool, fiber, fleecy webs of synthetic materials, cellulose, etc., may be advantageously treated.

The fan may work to maintain high pressure conditions and a high pressure drop across the sieve openings of the sieve drum or it may function at low pressure conditions. By means of the air inlet vent and air outlet vent 10 and 11, it is possible to arrange the mechanism so that air flows only through one zone of the device, for example zone 1, and in such a case recirculation is not effective.

It should be appreciated that a great number of possibilities of variation of the treatment and fluid flow in each zone is possible. For example, the treatment may be effected in a certain sequence such as drying, fixing, steaming and crimping. It is also possible to advance the materials by insuring a slight slippage on the drum by maintaining a lesser rate of speed at the inlet.

In some instances, the heating elements are arranged to heat the fabric with increasing intensity as it flows through the successive zones. Of course, it is also possible to cool the air being circulated in some of the zones or to cool the air continuously, for example, after a maximum temperature is reached. In some instances radiating heating means or infra-red elements are used. In such cases, it is preferable that they are arranged in front of the apparatus or that they are provided in the individual zones.

The fan preferably operates in such a manner that in the region of the free passage for the fluid, i.e. at the drum perforations 12, the fluid will have a velocity of at least-8 meters per second.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device for treating permeable materials, comprising a rotatable perforated drum closed at one end and having an opening at the opposite end, a casing surrounding said drum, wall means on the interior of said casing extending from the interior wall of said casing inwardly to a 'location spaced radially from said drum by an amount to permit passage of material on said drum and defining a plurality of zones in said casing between the interior wall thereof and said drum, and a fan having an inlet disposed in the opening at one end of said drum and including means to discharge fluid into said zones.

2. A device for treating permeable materials, comprising a rotatable perforated drum having an opening at one end, a casing surrounding said drum, wall means defined on the interior of said casing extending from the interior wall thereof inwardly to a location spaced radially from said drum by an amount to permit passage of material on said drum and defining a plurality of zones in said casing between the interior wall thereof and said drum, a fan having an inlet disposed in the opening at one end of said drum and including means to discharge fluid into said zones, and means at one side of said casing for guiding material onto said drum and for conducting material away from said drum.

3. A device according to claim 2, including heating means disposed in a path of fluid delivered to at least one of said zones.

4. A device according to claim 3, including means for conducting treatment fluid to at least one of said zones.

5. A device according to claim 2, including fluid inlet and fluid outlet means defined in said casing.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said fluid outlet means is on an end wall of said casing and said fluid inlet means is on a wall intermediate the ends thereof.

7. A device according to claim 2, including an adjustable discharge vent on a side wall of said casing.

8. A device for treating permeable materials, comprising a multi-sided casing, a rotatable perforated drum disposed completely within said casing at a spaced location from the interior walls thereof, dividing walls extending inwardly from the interior wall of said casing to a closely spaced position in respect to said drum and defining within said casing a plurality of zones, said drum having an opening at one end thereof, a fan including blade means having an inlet disposed at the opening of said drum and a discharge for delivering fluid taken in through said inlet into said zones, means for rotating said fan, and means for guiding material onto said drum and for guiding said material off said drum.

9. A device according to claim 8, including means for directing fluid into at least one of said zones.

10. A device according to claim 8, including an adjustable air vent defined in a Wall of said casing.

11. A device according to claim 8, including an adjustable air vent discharge defined in an end wall of said casing.

12. A device according to claim 8, including heating elements disposed to heat fluid directed by said fan into at least one of said zones.

13. A device according to claim 8, including means for directing a secondary fluid into at least one of said zones.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 354,797 Lorimer Dec. 21, 1886 1,807,580 Allsop June 2, 1931 1,907,429 Masland May 9, 1933 2,080,635 Schramek May 18, 1937 2,494,807 Haeberlin J an. 17, 1950 2,919,496 Fleissner Jan. 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 207,264 Australia Apr. 1, 19-57 

1. A DEVICE FOR TREATING PERMEABLE MATERIALS, COMPRISING A ROTATABLE PERFORATED DRUM CLOSED AT ONE END AND HAVING AN OPENING AT THE OPPOSITE END, A CASING SURROUNDING SAID DRUM, WALL MEANS ON THE INTRIOR OF SAID CASING EXTENDING FROM THE INTERIOR WALL OF SAID CASING INWARDLY TO A LOCATION SPACED RADIALLY FROM SAID DRUM BY AN AMOUNT TO PERMIT PASSAGE OF MATERIAL ON SAID DRUM AND DEFINING A PLURALITY OF ZONES IN SAID CASING BETWEEN THE INTERIOR WALL THEREOF AND SAID DRUM, AND A FAN HAVING AN INLET DISPOSED IN THE OPENING AT ONE END OF SAID DRUM AND INCLUDING MEANS TO DISCHARGE FLUID INTO SAID ZONES. 